2019 Bismark Petit Verdot 750ml

Vineyard: Our Bismark Mountain Ranch is in the Moon Mountain District Sonoma County appellation, high above the city of Sonoma and San Pablo Bay. Here on the southwestern flanks of the Mayacamas Mountains we grow just over an acre of Petit Verdot. We began planting in 1991 and continue to fine tune our mix of cultivars to this day. This is steep ground; shared with Creosote bush, grey pines, coyotes, and mountain lions. Topographically it is similar to the Douro. Windy, sun drenched yet moderate in temperature, Bismark grudgingly produces grapes with an intense, deeply concentrated flavor. Bismark’s unique terroir is both fierce and alluring. 

Vintage 2019: Winter was mild and very wet, providing much needed ground water recharge at Bismark. Degree-days tracked a bit higher than 2018, with ideal weather and no temperature spikes until we had two hot days in mid-August and late September-which alleviated any worries about our bit of mid-September rain. 2019 was an extremely long harvest with moderate weather continuing into early November. The grapes for the Bismark Mountain Petit Verdot were harvested on November 5, 2019 at an average Brix of 28.5o.

Winemaking: Our four tons of Bismark Petit Verdot were cold soaked with a non-saccharomyces yeast, then inoculated with AWRA 796. As is our normal protocol for this cultivar, it was pressed quite sweet, at 11.6 Brix, and finished fermentation in tank before a mid-December barreling. Despite the early pressing, it was still quite tannic; hence, the 21% Malbec in the blend. The wine was barrel aged for 28 months in 33% new oak barrels coopered by Trust.

Tasting Notes: Beautifully complex from the long barrel aging and two years bottle aging; yet, it continues to evolve in the glass. Aromatics are spicy and fresh –blueberry, tonka bean, clary sage and applewood charcoal. Flavors integrate the spice with ripe raspberries and a touch of red miso. Lovely! (Tasted 7/25/2024)

 

Variety

76% Petit Verdot, 21% Malbec, 1.5% each Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Franc

Vineyard Location

Bismark Mountain blocks 16 Petit Verdot, 3 Cab Sauv, 26 Malbec, Moon Mountain District Sonoma County

Age of Vines

24

 

Alcohol 14.8%

pH 4.01

Titratable Acidity (TA) 0.67 g/100 mL

Residual Sugar 0.0%

 

Avg. Brix at Harvest 28.5o

Length/Type of Aging 28 months in barrel. 33% New oak coopered by Trust

 

Bottling Date May 23, 2022

Number of Cases 210